CO-OPERATIVE DAIRYING

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 688, 6 December 1902, Page 3

CO-OPERATIVE DAIRYING

MEETING AT PAT UTAH!

A LIVELY DISCUSSION

A meeting of milk suppliers was held at I’ututuhi last evening to consider tho question of amalgamation of tho two factories. Thero was a fair attendance, Mr Tuohy presiding. Tho Chairman called upon Mr McGregor, who he thought was the convenor of tho meeting, to address the gathering. Mr McGregor said that he was not the convenor of the meeting, but thought Mr Tornhleson could enlighten them on the subject. Mr Tornbleeon replied that ovzirig to the cost of advertising ho had not added any names to tho advertisement. Ho said thut tho object of the meeting was to ask tho Patutabi people to join the Kia Ora suppliers and iorrn one co-operative factory for Poverty Buy. He also stated that the committee had waited upon tho provisional directors of tho Poverty Bay Co-operative Company, and that they

expressed tho opinion that they did not approve of buying out Mr McGregor. Mr Tornhleson said that the committee wore satisfied with the terms offered by Mr McGregor, and considered it was a good chanco for tho farmers to secure a strong factory. Mr Aclund Hood npoko of the fuvorable terms oirored by Mr McGregor, and pointed out that tho Committee had no expert valuator coining to valuo the factory. In dealing with the subject of opposition, ho estimated that tho district would 1 nso X3OOG in having two factories instead of one. Continuing, Mr Hood referred to tho enterprise displayed by Mr McGregor in starting tho Industry in tho district. Tho speaker urged that Mr McGregor’s terms should bo accepted. Tho factories cculd be purchased at once, and bofore five years on tho torms arranged tho Company’s indebtedness would bo paid off. Mr D. Malono thought that tho subject of amalgamation wus well worth considera-

tion. Ho gave soverul instances of tho advantages of amalgamation from an economical point of view. Mr Gallagher wanted Mr Hood to givo tho meeting some idea of tho working expenses.

Mr Hood said that Mr McGregor could enlighten them on the subject. In reply, Mr McGregor said that tho working expenses for tho whole of the factories amounted to a little under X4O per week.

Mr Torabloson pointed out that the Patutahi settlors had to cart their milk a long way to tho Poverty Bay factory, and said that if they ull joined tho proposed co-operative factory they would have a factory at Patutahi in a short timo. Ho asked tho meeting for an expression of opinion. Tho Chairman said that Mr Tombleson had no right to introduce tho question of the distanco tho suppliers to the Poverty Bay factory had to go. Mr Gallagher thought it was a pity that tho spirit of co-operation had not been so keen at an earlior stago in tho industry in tho district. Many present that ovening woro not so eagor for co-operation some few wooks back. Ho went on to say that tho Kia-Ora factory had a number of small creameries throughout the district, and ho did not seo why tho Poverty Bay factory should bo put to this expense.

Tho Chairman said that as one of tho directors of tho Povorty Bay factory he was in favor of erecting creameries whenever and wherever tho demand existod.

Mr C. Gibson said thoy did not want the opinions of tho directors of tho Povorty Bay factory, or of Mr McGregor ; what they wanted was the opinion of tho suppliers present. Ho thought the best course to adopt was to form a committoe, and mako inquiries as to tho benefits of amalgamation. Ho highly eulogised Mr McGregor’s ontorprise in regard to the dairying industry, and denounced tho out-throat policy that at present existod between tho two factories. If thoy looked at tho position as level-headod toilers, thoy would bo surprised at the result. Continuing, Mr Gibson doalt with the retailing of butter in tho local stores.

Tbo Chairman called Mr Gibson to order, remarking that they wore not there to sell butter, but to discuss the question of co-operation. Mr Roberts said that he saw no reason why Mr Gibson should have been called to ordor. Ho (the speaker) was satisfied that a game of bluff had boon played by tho directors of tho Poverty Bay Company when they mot tbo committee appointed by the Kia Ora suppliers. This statement brought Mr Tuohy to his foet. Ho gave on emphatic denial to Mr Roberts’ remark, and called upon Mr Hood to bear him out that tho Poverty B

ay directors had carefully considered the proposals submitted to them. Mr Hood replied that they had certainly given them a hearing, but the members of the committee might just as woll have been talking to a stone wall. (Laughter). Mr Boberts again remarked that he thought tho Chairman was wrong in calling Mr Gibson to order. The Chairman : If you are not careful I shall have to call you to order. Mr Boberts ; I say that Mr Gibson was submitting usoful information to the suppliers, and was entitled to a hearing. Tho Chairman suggested to Mr Hood that a proposition should bo placed before tho meeting so that Mr Gibson should be in order. Mr Hood : Wo havo not come here to make propositions. What we require is a guarantee of shares. Mr Gibson remarked that ho would havo to bo more careful. (Laughtor.) The meeting was for tho purpose of forming one factory for Poverty Bay, and although ho was one of tho directors for tho Povorty Bay Association, ho would fight for amalgamation until he saw that it was impossible. The Chairman : Where are tho two companies you speak of Mr Gibson '? I only know of one, and that is the Poverty Bay. (Laughtor.) Mr Gibson : That is all we want, and that is the object of this meeting. Mr Malone said that his sympathies | wero in the direction of co-operation.

The Chairman : You had better come to our factory and help us. Mr Hood moved a resolution to the effect that the amalgamation of tho two factories would bo in tho best interests of tho district. This was seconded by Mr Tombleson. Mr W. K. Chambers drew attention to olio cut-throat policy that had existed in Poverty Bay in past years in regard to co-operativo businesses. Ho thought that

tho safest course for tho two factories to adopt was so amalgamate, and thus obtain tho best results.

Mr Gibson suggested that Mr Knight, Chairman of tho Poverty Bay Factory, should address tho meeting. Mr Knight explained tho linos upon which tho Poverty Bay factory was running, pointing out that they had a very small liability, and that tho shareholders had every reason to be well satisfied with tho lcsults obtained. They would, ho said, bo willing to join with tho Kia-Ora suppliers if tho latter could show them as sound a financial basis to work upon. Mr Tombleson asked Mr Knight what facilities tho Poverty Bay factory bad for dealing with more milk than thoy woro at present receiving. Mr Knight: We could cope with all the milk in Poverty Bay. The Chairman : You are underrating our factory, Mr Tombleson. Mr Tombleson : Your churn is no bigger than that small table in front

°f you. . Tho Chairman said ho would givo *ou to tho Gisborne Hospital, provided Mr Tombleson would do tho same, that the churn was bigger than tho table in front of him. (Applause and laughter.) Mr Knight dealt with tho liability that tho Poverty Bay shareholders would incur in amalgamating. Ho contended that there were too many small creameries in connection with tho Kia-Ora factory. Mr Hood: How long will they be small? Mr McGregor said it was the small creameries that had been erected in Poverty Bay that had sot the industry on such a sound footing. Tho Chairman pointed out that the rent of tho Matawhero factory was costing the Poverty Bay Company 9d per week per shareholder. Ho mentioned this fact for tho information of the meeting. Mr Hood said that the cost would not be any more to the shareholders of the Kia-Qtft factory.

Mr Roberts asked how the Poverty Bay factory intended to erect creameries at the rato of X6OO each throughout tho different districts.

The Chairman : You need not be frightened ; we havo hundreds to our credit. Mr Roberts said that eventually the Poverty Bay shareholders must be called upon, and that was why ho advocated Mr McGregor’s proposal of J£2 a share being accepted. The Chairman : You are underrating our auxiliary creameries. They will cost .£IOOO, not X6OO. Mr I-lood’s motion was then put to the meeting, and curried by five to two. There were about twenty-five suppliers present, tho majority of whom abstained from voting. The Chairman remarked on the small number that had voted.

Mr Hood thought that it was a very good sign to' see only two against the proposirion. Mr Gibson proposed, and Mr Roberts seconded, “ That a committee be formed of eight suppliers in the room to forward the interests of amalgamation in the district,"

The motion was unanimously adopted. The following were elected members of the Committee :—Messrs Roborts, A. Atkins, D. Mulone, Gallagher, 0. Gibson, A. Hood, Tombleson, and Brooking.

A voto of thanks to tho Chairman terminated the meeting.